President Jonathan, campaign team trapped in Maiduguri

Journalists, security personnel, and the medical team, who accompanied President Goodluck Jonathan on his campaign tour of Maiduguri, Borno State, were still trapped in Maiduguri, yesterday, following anattack on the city by the Boko Haram sect.

The team which was billed to have left for the venue of the President’s campaign, was still in the state due to the 24 hour-curfew imposed by the Nigerian Army on Maiduguri, the state capital.

One of those trapped disclosed to Vanguard via a telephone: “We are hiding and there is serious fighting going on between the insurgents and security personnel. Security men are battling to repel the insurgents.

“The military said that troops have repelled the attack but they will have to comb the bushes to get rid of the insurgents and they said they might not finish today. Meaning that we can not leave today (yesterday).”

According to the source, the entire convoy of the President remains a major target of the insurgents who are bent on attacking the team in order to embarrass the presidency.

A statement by the Defence Headquarters on its tweeter handle yesterday said: “Troops are repelling a simultaneous attack on Monguno and Maiduguri by terrorists. Coordinated air and land operations are being conducted now.”